Steelcat,
Steelcat,
I certainly hope you also installed new inner rocker panels at the same time you did the floors!
For those who don't understand what I'm talking about, Ford added an additional frame member on the convertibles to try to strengthen them up a bit. If you look at the 'before' pic of Steelcat's car, look at the area where the floor meets the rocker panel. See that rusted out panel there? That's the inner rocker. I f you look at your basic hardtop, it doesn't have that piece with the 45 degree bend protruding inboard of the rocker panel-to-door sill seam. Also, convertibles have the bolt-on heavy plate under the car in the seat area that goes under the driveshaft. Again, that is to try to tie the car together a little better.
My one buddy rebuilt a convertible Mustang in a little worse shape than Steelcat's cat. I think the only exterior body panels that were reused were the top-to-decklid filler panel and the two outer rocker panels. Even at that, he had to patch the front frame rails, replace both the front and rear fender aprons, core support, full floors, trunk floor, both rear frame rails, front torque boxes.... All that work to 'save' a 351C-CJ four speed convert. Oh, and this was before he got the mig welder, so the structural stuff was either arc welded or gas welded in, and the other panels brazed. Talk about work!